Royal Caribbean to add scrubbers to 19 ships

Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas was built with advanced emissions purification systems.
Jonathan Atkin

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said Monday that it will outfit 19 ships with exhaust cleaning systems known as “scrubbers.”

By using the technology, the company said it will meet new tough air-pollution standards that go into effect in 2015 off North American coasts as well as existing rules in the European Union.

The Miami-based cruise company said it has been involved in testing and planning the clean-air technology since 2010. Two new ships — Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas and Mein Schiff 3 from TUI Cruises — were built to include advanced emissions purification systems.

Installation of the systems will start in January. By 2017, 13 Royal Caribbean International ships and six Celebrity Cruises vessels will have been updated with the technology. The installation process takes about eight months, the company said.